
They typically offer a few basic designs that can be customized by selecting from a smorgasbord of treads, balusters, railings, and other options. Although some specialize in making only hardwood or metal, many companies make both. Manufacturers make spiral stairs in steel, aluminum, hardwoods, and combinations of these materials. Spiral stair consumes minimal space and offers a lightweight, sculptural appearance. Balusters bolt to the treads and handrail. You simply bolt the stringers to the header and floor and then bolt the treads to the stringers. Steel stringers are pre-welded to support oak, pine, or mahogany treads.

Mylen Stairs manufactures stair systems that have a contemporary, open look, with stair treads held only by single or paired stringers. Visador-Coffman Stairs has gone one step further with pre-assembled railing sections that can adjust to the slope of any stair. With most pre-built hardwood stairs, the newel posts, railings, and balusters are pre-cut, pre-fitted, and numbered for easy reassembly. Manufactured hardwood stair system has standard-sized components that are designed for easy assembly and minimal customization. Most stairs cost from $1,000 to $2,000, but for custom-designed products, the sky is the limit. Stock stair and railing designs range from Colonial to contemporary. Stair systems are manufactured as unfinished, shop-assembled sections that can be installed by two workers with minimal carpentry tools. Some manufacturers build conventional hardwood stairs in sections, ready to connect end-to-end or at landings. These simple, carpenter-built straight stairs are enhanced by a handsome hardwood railing. It is also one of the most expensive and difficult types of stairs to build. Spiral StaircaseĪ circular stair is elegant and welcoming to climb. Homes with a spiral stair often also have another stair that provides easier access for moving furniture and similar needs. This type of stair is particularly impractical when you need to carry large objects from one floor to the next, and it is not safe for use by children or the elderly. Return Stair with Landing L-Shaped StairĪ spiral staircase takes up the least amount of space and is economical to install, but it is also the hardest to climb. Because of this, stairs with a landing-L-shaped or U-shaped stairs-are often preferred where space allows. Stairs that stop at a landing and turn 90 or 180 degrees take up less space and can be safer and easier to traverse. The key is to be sure that any stair you buy will not only meet your local codes but, be will also be an attractive, safe, easy-to-use addition to your home.Ī straight staircase that ascends directly from one floor to the next is the easiest (and usually the most affordable) to build but can be somewhat formidable to climb. You’ll also find restrictions on head-height clearance and railing construction and placement. Many codes demand a 9- to 10-inch tread depth (minimum) at a point 12 to 14 inches from the narrow side.
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When planning or ordering stairs that turn, such as spiral stairs, pay special attention to exactly where on the steps your measurements must be taken for code acceptance.


Some builder organizations argue that these claims are yet to be proven and that 7-11 stairs take up more space and increase the costs of building them. Despite the fact that the steeper stairs are acceptable to many codes, some experts believe they are prone to cause more accidents.

These dimensions are a revision of earlier, briefly adopted standards that allowed a maximum of 7 inches on risers and a minimum of 11 inches for tread depths-sizing promoted by some safety experts following a 1985 study of accidents on stairs in the workplace. Even if 7 3/4-inch risers and 10-inch treads are allowed in your area, we suggest opting for shorter heights and deeper treads for the sake of comfort and safety.
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Get your local stair-building requirements from your city or county building department.Īs a general rule of thumb, the International Code Council, administered by the Building Officials and Code Administration (BOCA), may allow maximum riser height of 7 3/4 inches and a minimum tread depth of 9 inches plus a 1-inch nosing where solid risers are utilized. Some local codes have different restrictions than accepted standards because of local conditions such as danger of flooding or earthquake. Though many local codes are based on certain national standards, there is no single national code that regulates stairs in all areas. You must be sure that any stair you plan, build, or buy will meet your local codes. Stairs are built according to basic rules and principles intended to make them safe to use. Because the location of railings and balusters, width and depth of tread, and height of risers affect the ease and safety of using a stair, these dimensions are regulated by building codes.
